OSHA Improves Its Online Whistleblower Complaint Form

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently revised its online whistleblower complaint form to help users file a complaint with the appropriate agency. The form provides workers with another option for submitting retaliation complaints to the Department of Labor's OSHA. The updated form guides individuals as they file a complaint through the process, providing essential questions at the beginning so they can better understand and exercise their rights under relevant laws. One significant improvement to the system includes pop-up boxes with information about various agencies for individuals who indicate that they have engaged in protected activity that may be addressed by an agency other than OSHA. The new form is available in English and Spanish. "Workers who report unsafe conditions and wrongdoing have a range of legal protections from retaliation," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt. "The revised online complaint form works to ensure whistleblowers file their complaints with the appropriate federal agency for prompt action." In addition to the online form, workers can file complaints by fax, mail, or hand-delivery; contacting the agency at 800-321-6742; or calling an OSHA regional or area office. OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of 22 statutes protecting employees who report violations of various securities laws, trucking, airline, nuclear power, pipeline, environmental, rail, public transportation, workplace safety and health, and consumer protection laws. Detailed information on employee whistleblower rights, including fact sheets, is available online at http://www.whistleblowers.gov/.